olence, unless in necessary self-defence, and I recommend to
them that in all cases, when allowed, they labor faithfully for
reasonable wages.

And I further declar and make known that such persons of suitable
condition will be received into the armed service of the United States
to garrison forts, positions, stations and other places, and to man
vessels of all sorts in said service.

And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted
by the Consitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate
judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name, and caused the seal of
the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this first day
of January, in the year of our Lord one
[L.S.] thousand eight hundred and sixty-three,
and of the Independence of the United
States the eighty-seventh.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

By the President.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD,
_Secretary of State._

THE CONFISCATION ACT.

TO CONFISCATE PROPERTY USED FOR INSURRECTIONARY PURPOSES.

_Be it enacted, etc._, That if, during the present or any future
insurrection against the Government of the United States, after the
President of the United States shall have declared, by proclamation,
that the laws of the United States are opposed, and the execution
thereof obstructed, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the
ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the power vested in the
marshals by law, any person or persons, his, her, or their agent,
attorney, or employee, shall purchase or acquire, sell or give any
property of whatsoever kind or description, with intent to use or employ
the same, or suffer the same to be used or employed, in aiding,
abetting, or promoting such insurrection or resistance to the laws, or
any person or persons engaged therein; or if any person or persons,
being the owner or owners of any such property, shall knowingly use or
employ, or consent to the use or employment of the same as aforesaid,
all such property is hereby declared to be lawful subject of prize and
capture wherever found; and it shall be the duty of the President of the
United States to cause the same to be seized, confiscated, and
condemned.

SEC. 2. Such prizes and capture shall be condemned in the district or
circuit court of the United States, having jurisdiction of the amount,
or in admiralty in any district in which the same may be seize